What rug???

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b3auty

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I have Welsh Sec D, 15'2hh, 14YO, Mare.

This winter will be my first with her (or any horse for that matter) and I would like to know what rug people think a Sec D would need for both in stable at night in winter and out in the field during the day in winter. Heavy or middleweight? I know she used to live up in the mountains in Wales so must be used to some quite harsh winters but I do not want her getting cold. Should I buy both and see how she goes?

Any suggestions please let me know :p
 
Are you going to clip her? How much work will she be doing? When she's in the field, will there be shelter (field shelter, thick hedge)?

I find that most horses are fine in their winter coats except for when it is very wet and cold (especially if it's also windy). Obviously if you clip her, she will need rugging. If she was mine, I'd buy a LW turnout and a MW turnout. I'd probably only use the MW in the worst of the weather. I only potter about in the winter so I don't need to clip my horses. A breathable turnout can be used in the stable as well as in the field.

ETA. Here are my horses in Wales, an arab (MW Rhino Wug), Anglo (Rambo Duo, she grows hardly any coat so it had the 300g liner) and a TB (MW Rhino Wug).

Horseshayfeeder.jpg


The TB in Hertfordshire (milder weather ;) :p ).
Melodysnow.jpg
 
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Tricky to know tbh as each horse can be so different.
I can only use my mare as an example.
She is 1/2 connie, 1/4ID and 1/4tb. This winter she was fully clipped as we were doing alot of work all winter. She came in at night (because we don't have the option for 24/7 turnout in the winter). During the day she was in a full neck medium weight. I have a heavyweight for her and did put it on for a couple of the very coldest days, but it was for literally two days all winter, otherwise she got too hot and was itchy when she came in. She is alot more comfortable if allowed to feel on the cooler side and given adlib hay. If she is rugged to feel warm then she gets uncomfortable and is unhappy like this. Given what I know now I wouldn't bother getting a heavyweight as it is a total waste of money for her!

What sort of clip do you think you may give her (if any?), as that will affect your choice too. At most I would suggest that, assuming she is healthy, I would get her a medium weight (that is a brand you can be sure stays fully water tight), possibly with a removable neck if her neck isn't going to be clipped out so on cold but dry days you can take the hood off. I got my medium weight from here and it is absolutly brilliant, premier equine are good too. I like these makes as they last well, are properly waterproof and wrap around well to keep the wind and rain out. http://www.swish-equestrian.co.uk/details.php?cat=Rugs:Turnout Rugs&id=29
If you find it gets cooler than she is comfortable being then you can always add a rug liner rather than shelling out for another rug.

Tbh, so long as a well horse has adlib fibre, if they are dry and out of the wind they need very little in the way of added insulation!
 
I would wholeheartedly recommend a Bucas power turnout. Suitable from -25 to +15, mine will be going into it's 5th winter, and my old thoroughbred wore it inside and out.
 
She won't be clipped at all during the winter.

Its quite strange that I have posted this as about 3 weeks ago I messaged her first ever owner who had from a foal and he has just this second replied to my email reagrding what rug to put her in.

He has said that they stopped rugging her from the age of two as developed a very thick winter coat.

Hmmmm... Maybe as she's now 14yrs she may like a little extra warmth from a light weight and medium weight? I know he probably knows best as he had her for 11/12 years. I would just feel bad leaving her out in the below 0 temps with no rug!!


What do you think?
 
In that case I think she would be totally fine! I would get a lightweight for very wet days, and leave her the rest of the time. I know people only want the best for their horses and so wrap them up, but it can so easily slip into cruelty as horses are pretty rubbish at cooling themselves down, but are utterly brilliant at warming themselves up.

14 is no age, so I wouldn't be considering rugging her more on account of that. Apart from anything else, welsh hills to bedfordshire winter should be a walk in the park for her!! She knows what she needs and grows a coat accordinly!
 
That is very true. I know they prefer to be slighter cooler than too warm. I will buy a lightweight one for the rain and if she becomes visibly cold I will invest in a medium weight but judging by what previous owner has said she should be fine not rugged at all. Nice and easy :)
 
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You should also bear in mind that depending on your fields they could be quite exposed with little shelter whereas in the Welsh hills she would have been able to travel to find shelter.
Having said that daytime only and unclipped, I would have thought that a lightweight would be a good place to start.
 
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